ELAH
ELAH
1. A valley in which David slew Goliath, 1Sa 17:2,3,19 . It was probably about eleven miles southwest from Jerusalem.2. Son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel, B. C. 926. After reigning two years, he was slain while intoxicated, by Zimri, one of his officers, who succeeded him as king. Zimri destroyed all the family of Baasha, according to the prediction of Jehu, 1Ki 16:6- 10.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Elah
(Hebrews Elah’, , terebinth or oak [q.v.]), the name of a place, and also of five men.
1. The VALLEY OF ELAH- ( , vale of the terebinth or oak; Sept. , but translates in 1Sa 17:2; 1Sa 17:19; Vulg. likewise vallis terebinthi), a valley in (not “by,” as the A.V. has it) which the Israelites were encamped against the Philistines when David killed Goliath (1Sa 17:2; 1Sa 17:19; 1Sa 21:9). It lay somewhere near Shocoh of Judah, and Azekah, and was nearer Ekron than any other Philistine town (1Sa 17:1-58). Shocoh has been with great probability identified with Shuweikeh, near Beit Netif, some 14 miles S.W. of Jerusalem, on the road to Beit Jibrin and Gaza, among the more western of the hills of Judah, not far from where they begin to descend into the great Philistine plain. The village stands on the south slopes of the wady es-Sumt, or valley of the acacia, which runs off in a N.W. direction across the plain to the sea just above Ashdod. Above Shuweikeh it branches into two other wadys. Large, though inferior in size to itself, and the junction of the three forms a considerable open space of not less than a mile wide cultivated in fields of grain. In the center is a wide torrent bed thickly strewed with round pebbles, and bordered by the acacia bushes from which the valley derives its present name. There seems to le no reason to doubt that this is the Valley of the Terebinth. It has changed its name, and is now called after another kind of tree (the sumt, or acacia), but the terebinth (butm) appears to be plentiful in the neighborhood, and one of the largest specimens in Palestine still stands in the immediate neighborhood of the spot, in wady Sur, the southernmost of the branch wadys. Four miles E. of Shuweikeh, along wady Musur, the other branch, is the khan and ruined site Akbeh, which van de Velde proposes to identify with Azekah. These identifications are confirmed by that of Ephesdammim (q.v.), the site of the Philistine camp. Ekron is 17 miles, and Bethlehem 12 miles distant from Shocoh. (For the valley, see Robinson, Researches, 2:350; Van de Velde, Narrative, 2:191; Porter, Handbook, pages 249, 250, 280; Schwarz, Palest. page 77.)
There is a point in the topographical indications of 1Sa 17:1-58 which it is very desirable should be carefully examined on the spot. The Philistines were between Shocoh and Azekah, at Ephesdammim, or Pasdammim, on the mountain on the S. side of the wady, while the Israelites were in the “valley” (qemoi) of the terebinth, or, rather, on the mountain on the N. side, and “the ravine” or “the glen” () was between the two armies (1Sa 17:2-3). Again (1Sa 17:52), the Israelites pursued the Philistines “till you come to ‘the ravine'” (the same word). There is evidently a marked difference between the “valley” and the “ravine,” and a little attention on the spot might do much towards elucidating this, and settling the identification of the place. In the above location, the distance between the armies was about a mile, and the vale beneath is flat and rich. The ridges rise on each side to the height of about 500 feet, and have a uniform slope, so that the armies ranged along them could see the combat in the vale. The Philistines, when defeated, fled down the valley towards Gath and Ekron.
The traditional “Valley of the Terebinth” is the wady Beit-Hanina, which lies about 4 miles to the N.W. of Jerusalem, and is crossed by the road to Nebi Samwil. The scene of David’s conflict is pointed out a little N. of the “Tombs of the Judges,” and close to the traces of the old paved road. In this valley olive trees and carob-trees now prevail, and terebinth-trees are few; but the brook is still indicated whence the youthful champion selected the “smooth stones'”‘ wherewith he smote the Philistine. The brook is dry in summer, but in winter it becomes a mighty torrent, which inundates the vale (Kitto, Pictorial Palestine, page 121). But this spot is in the tribe of Benjamin, and otherwise does not correspond with the narrative of the text (see Thenius, Sachs exeg. Stud. 2:151).
2. (Sept. , but in Chron.; Vulg. Ella.) One of the Edomitish “dukes” or chieftains in Mount Seir (Gen 36:41; 1Ch 1:52), B.C. post 1963. By Knobel (Comment. zu Genesis in loc.) he is connected with Elath (q.v.) on the Red Sea.
3. (Sept. v.r. .) The middle one of the three sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh (1Ch 4:15), B.C. 1618. In that passage his sons are called Kenaz or Uknaz, but the words may be taken as if Kenaz was, with Elah, a son of Caleb. It is a singular coincidence that the names of both Elah and Kenaz also appear among the Edomitish “dukes.”
4. (Properly ELA, Hebrews Ela’, ; Sept. .) The father of Shimei ben-Ela, Solomon’s commissariat officer in Benjamin (1Ki 4:18), B.C. 1013.
5. (Sept. , Josephus , Vulg. Ela.) The son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel (1Ki 16:8-10); his reign lasted for little more than a year (compare 1Ki 16:8 with 10), B.C. 928-7. He was killed while drunk by Zimri, in the house of his steward Arza, who was probably a confederate in the plot. This occurred, according to Josephus (Ant. 8:12, 4),while his army and officers were absent at the siege of Gibbethon. He was the last king of Baasha’s line, and by this catastrophe the predictions of the prophet Jehu were accomplished (1Ki 16:6-7; 1Ki 16:11-14).
6. (Sept. .) The father of Hoshea, last king of Israel (2Ki 15:30; 2Ki 17:1), B.C. 729, or ante.
7. (Sept. v.r. , Vulg. Ela.) The son of Uzzi, and one of the Benjamite heads of families who were taken into captivity (1Ch 9:8), or rather, perhaps, returned from it. B.C. 516.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Elah (2)
SEE OAK; SEE TEREBINTH.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Elah (3)
We extract some interesting details concerning this noted valley from the latest description, that of Lieut. Conder (Tent Work in Palestine, 2:187,190): “The Great Valley of Elah (Wady es-Sunt) is the highway from Philistia to Hebron; it has its head not far froml Terkumieh, and runs down northwards, past Keilah and Hareth, dividing the low hills of the Shephelah from the rocky mountains of Judah; eight miles from the valley-head stands Shochoh, and Wady es-Sunt is here a quarter of a mile across; just north of this ruin it turns round westward. and so runs, growing leeper and deeper, between the rocky hills covered with brushwood, becoming an open vale of rich corn-land, flanked by ancient fortresses, and finally debouching at the cliff of Tell esSafieh. About two and a half miles south of the great angle near Shochoh there is a very large and ancient terebipth, one of the few old trees of the species along the course of the valley, which took its Hebrew name of Elah from them. This terebinth is towards the west side of the vale, just where a small tributary ravine joins Wfidy es-Sunt; and near it are two ancient wells, not unlike those at Beersheba, with stone water-troughs Tound them; south of the ravine is a high, rounded hill, almost isolated by valleys, and covered with ruins, a natural fortress, not unlike the well- known Tells which occur lower down the Valley of Elah.”
“Two points require to be made clear as to the episode of David’s, battle with Goliath; one is the meaning of the expression, Gai or ‘ravine’, the other is the source whence David took the ‘smooth stones.’ A visit to the spot explains both. In the middle of the broad, open valley we found a deep trench. with vertical sides, inpassable except at certailn places a valley in a valley, and a natural barrier between the two hosts; the sides and bed of this trench are strewn with rounded and water-worn pebbles, which would have been well fitted for David’s sling. Here, then, we may picture to ourselves the two hosts, covering the low, rocky hills opposite to each other, and half hidden among the lentisk bushes; between them was the rich expanse of ripening barley and the red banks of the torrent, with its white, shingly bed; behind all were the distant blue hill-walls of Judah, whence Saul had just come down. The mail-clad champion advanced from the west, through the low corn, with his mighty lance perhaps tufted with feathers, his brazen helmet shining in the sun; from the east, a ruddy boy, in his white shirt and sandals, armed with a goat’s-hair sling, came down to the brook, and, according to the poetic fancy of the rabbis, the pebbles were given voices, and cried: ‘By us shalt thou overcome the giant.’ The champion fell from an unseen cause, and the wild Philistines fled to the mouth of the valley, where Gath stood towering on its white chalk-cliff, a frontier fortress, the key to the high-road leading to the corn-lands of Judah, and to the vineyards of Hebron.” (See cut on next page.)
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Elah
terebinth or oak. (1.) Valley of, where the Israelites were encamped when David killed Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2, 19). It was near Shochoh of Judah and Azekah (17:1). It is the modern Wady es-Sunt, i.e., “valley of the acacia.” “The terebinths from which the valley of Elah takes its name still cling to their ancient soil. On the west side of the valley, near Shochoh, there is a very large and ancient tree of this kind known as the ‘terebinth of Wady Sur,’ 55 feet in height, its trunk 17 feet in circumference, and the breadth of its shade no less than 75 feet. It marks the upper end of the Elah valley, and forms a noted object, being one of the largest terebinths in Palestine.” Geikie’s, The Holy Land, etc.
(2.) One of the Edomite chiefs or “dukes” of Mount Seir (Gen. 36:41).
(3.) The second of the three sons of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh (1 Chr. 4:15).
(4.) The son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel (1 Kings 16:8-10). He was killed while drunk by Zimri, one of the captains of his chariots, and was the last king of the line of Baasha. Thus was fullfilled the prophecy of Jehu (6, 7, 11-14).
(5.) The father of Hoshea, the last king of Israel (2 Kings 15:30; 17:1).
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Elah
1. Baasha’s son and successor on the Israelite throne (1Ki 16:8-10); reigned little more than a year. A beacon to warn drunkards, killed by the captain of half his chariots, Zimri, while “drinking himself drunk” in the house of his steward Arza in Tirzah. Josephus (Ant. 8:12, section 4) says it occurred while his army and officers were absent at the siege of Gibbethon. As Baasha conspired against his master Nadab, so Zimri against Baasha’s son; Zimri in his turn was slain by Omri. Thus retributive justice pays transgressors in kind.
2. Father of Hoshea, last king of Israel (2Ki 15:30; 2Ki 17:1).
3. Duke of Edom (Gen 36:41); compare Elath on the Red Sea.
4. Father of Shimei, Solomon’s commissariat officer in Benjamin (1Ki 4:18).
5. Son of Caleb (1Ch 4:15).
6. Uzzi’s son, a chief of Benjamin (1Ch 9:8).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Elah
ELAH.1. A duke of Edom (Gen 36:41, 1Ch 1:52). 2. Son of Baasha, king of Israel. He had nominal possession of the throne two years or fractions of years (1Ki 16:8-14). He gave himself to drunken dissipation, until Zimri, one of his generals, revolted and killed him. The usual extirpation of the defeated dynasty followed. 3. Father of Hoshea (2Ki 15:30; 2Ki 17:1; 2Ki 18:1; 2Ki 18:9). 4. Second son of Caleb (1Ch 4:15). 5. A Benjamite (1Ch 9:8).
H. P. Smith.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Elah
ELAH (terebinth).A valley in the Shephlah, the scene of the battle between David and Goliath (1Sam 17, 21:9). It is most likely the modern Wady es-Sunt, which, rising in the mountains about Jeba, about 11 miles due S.W. of Jerusalem, runs westward, under various names, till it opens on the Maritime Plain at Tell es-Safi. In the middle of the valley is a watercourse which runs in winter only; the bottom is full of small stones such as David might have selected for his sling.
R. A. S. Macalister.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Elah (1)
ela (, ‘elah, oak or terebinth):
(1) A duke or sheik (head of a clan, the Revised Version (British and American) chief) of Edom (Gen 36:41).
(2) Shimei-ben-Elah, Solomon’s commissary in Benjamin (1Ki 4:18 the King James Version).
(3) A son of Caleb the son of Jephunneh (1Ch 4:15).
(4) Father of Hoshea, last king of Israel (2Ki 15:30; 2Ki 17:1).
(5) A Benjamite, son of Uzzi, one of the chiefs of the tribes when the country was settled (1Ch 9:8).
(6) King of Israel. See next article.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Elah (2)
ela. Son of Baasha, fourth king of Israel (1Ki 16:6-14). He reigned two years, 888-887 bc. The statement that he came to the throne in the 26th year of Asa, reigned two years, and died in the 27th year of Asa, illustrates the Hebrew method of synchronizing the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah (compare 1Ki 15:33; 1Ki 16:8). Elah appears to have been a debauchee. While he was drinking himself drunk in the house of Azra, his chamberlain, Zimri, one of his military leaders, conspired against him and murdered him. According to Josephus (VIII, xii, 4) he took advantage of the absence of the army, which was at Gibbethon, to kill Elah. The extirpation of the royal family followed the murder of the king. Baasha’s dynasty had its origin in a murder and it ended in a murder. The government had no stability. These revolutions illustrate the truth that they who take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Elah
Elah, 1
Elah, son of Baasha king of Israel. After a reign of two years (B.C. 930-929) he was assassinated while drunk, and all his kinsfolk and friends cut off, by Zimri, ‘the captain of half his chariots.’ He was the last king of Baasha’s line, and by this catastrophe the predictions of the prophet Jehu were accomplished (1Ki 16:6-14).
Elah, 2
Elah, a valley in which the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath (1Sa 17:19). It doubtless received this name from the terebinth trees, or from some remarkable terebinth tree, growing in it. Ecclesiastical traditions identify it with the present valley of Beit Hanina, about eight miles north-west from Jerusalem. In this valley olive trees and carob trees now prevail, and terebinth trees are few; but the brook is still indicated whence the youthful champion selected the ‘smooth stones’ wherewith he smote the Philistine. The brook is dry in summer, but in winter it becomes a mighty torrent, which inundates the vale. Dr. Robinson, however, disputes this ancient tradition, and finds that the conditions of the history require him to identify the valley of Elah with the Wady es-Sumt (acacia valley), which he crossed on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, about eleven miles south-west from the former city. His reasons are given in Biblical Researches, iii. 350; and he remarks that the largest specimen of the terebinth tree which he saw in Palestine still stands in the vicinity.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Elah
[El’ah]
1. Duke of Edom. Gen 36:41; 1Ch 1:52.
2. Father of Shimei, one of Solomon’s commissariat officers. 1Ki 4:18.
3. Son and successor of Baasha king of Israel. He reigned little more than a year, being killed while intoxicated, by Zimri. 1Ki 16:6-14.
4. Father of Hoshea the last king of Israel. 2Ki 15:30; 2Ki 17:1; 2Ki 18:1; 2Ki 18:9.
5. Son of Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 1Ch 4:15.
6. Son of Uzzi and a chief of the tribe of Benjamin. 1Ch 9:8.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Elah
H414 H425
1. A valley where David slew Goliath
1Sa 17:2; 1Sa 17:19; 1Sa 21:9
2. An Edomitish duke
Gen 36:41; 1Ch 1:52
3. Son of Caleb
1Ch 4:15
4. Father of Shimei
1Ki 4:18
5. Son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel
1Ki 16:6-14
6. Father of Hoshea
2Ki 15:30; 2Ki 17:1
7. A Benjamite chief
1Ch 9:8
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Elah
Elah (‘lah), terebinth, valley of. 1. Where David slew Goliath. 1Sa 17:2; 1Sa 17:19; 1Sa 21:9. It is now called Wady es-Sunt, or “Acacia Valley,” 14 miles southwest of Jerusalem. The valley is about a quarter of a mile wide, and has steep sides rising to a height of about 500 feet. The torrent or brook has a deep channel in the middle of the valley, and its course is strewn with smooth white stones. Terebinth trees, which gave the original title to the valley, are still found there. 2. The name of six persons in early biblical history.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Elah
E’lah. (an oak, strength).
1. The son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel. 1Ki 16:8-10. His reign lasted for a little more than a year; compare 1Ki 16:8 with 1Ki 16:10. (B.C. 928-7). He was killed, while drunk, by Zimri, in the house of his steward, Azra, who was probably a confederate in the plot.
2. Father of Hoshea, the last king of Israel. 2Ki 15:30; 2Ki 17:1. (B.C. 729 or before).
3. One of the dukes of Edom. Gen 36:41; 1Ch 1:52.
4. Shimei ben-Elah was Solomon’s commissariat officer in Benjamin. 1Ki 4:18. (B.C. 1013).
5. A son of Caleb, the son of Jephuneh. 1Ch 4:15. (B.C. 1450).
6. Son of Uzzi, a Benjamite, 1Ch 9:8, and one of the chiefs of the tribe, at the settlement of the country. (B.C. 536).
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
ELAH
a king of Israel
1Ki 16:6; 1Ki 16:8